NORTH BRANCH — Three more 2010 graduates from North Branch High School signed on with colleges to play sports next season.
With Andy Peplinski, Dennis Natke and Dalton Bates inking their deals, it gives the Broncos a total of athletes from the class of 2010 who are moving on to play sports at the college level. And these three did it in their own special way.
For Peplinski, he becomes the first-ever golfer from North Branch to take his talents to the college level. Next season, Peplinski will join Rochester College as a member of their golf team.
“My parents wanted me to check out Rochester and I liked It. It was pretty nice down there,” Peplinski said. “Before the visit, I just knew it was a good school, a Christian school.”
Peplinski helped the Broncos to a Tri-Valley East championship in 2010 after posting a season-best individual round of 75. In turn, Rochester College also won the USCAA National Championship in 2009, giving Peplinski much to look forward to.
“Andy had a great four years with us on the varsity.  He was all conference three of those years and he will be an excellent addition to coach Bissett’s team,” North Branch head coach Steve Sippell said. “If Andy dedicates himself, he will be an excellent player for Rochester College.”
Peplinski was a first-team All-Conference selection as a sophomore, junior and senior while medaling at the conference championship match as a junior.
“I am very excited to have Andy with us next year.  I see a lot of potential in him,” said Rochester head coach Clayton Bissett.  “He had a great junior year when golf was his only sport.  I will be looking for that to show itself again this coming year.  The sky is the limit for Andy and I am eager to start working with him.”
Natke took his future into his own hands, setting out to find a school where he could play football at the college level. However, his journey ended when he was contacted by Bemidji State University, a lakeside school in Northern Minnesota.
“I was visiting a lot of Division 3 schools, smaller schools and NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) schools when I got an e-mail from the Bemidji coach, saying he saw some stuff on me and that he was really interested,” Natke said. “So, I figured I might as well go check it out and I ended up liking it a lot.”
Before being contacted by head coach Jeff Tesch, Natke admitted that he had never heard of Bemidji. But his interest in the school quickly peaked after learning about their recent success under coach Tesch in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
Last season, the Beavers finished 8-3, 7-3 in the NSIC. And, with eight wins in 2009, BSU has posted eight or more wins five times since Tesch took the reins of the program 14 years ago. In the 70 years prior to his arrival, Bemidji State had recorded just one eight-win season.
Last season, Natke earned second-team offense and first-team defense honors in the Tri-Valley East after being named the Broncos defensive MVP. In the classroom, Natke posted a 3.3 GPA, which he will now put towards pre-dentistry, business or broadcast communications. In all, Natke recieved offers from 109 schools across the country, 14 of which he visited. But still, he knew that Bemidji was where he wanted to be.
“Putting on weight will be the toughest part for me. And there will be pros and cons with being so far away from home,” Natke said. “But, I’m hoping that I can help them to a conference title this year so I can get a nice ring.”
Along with choosing his major, Natke has another big decision on his plate, that being whether or not he should join the Beavers baseball team.
Natke says he has been contacted by BSU’s head baseball coach about the possibilty of being a two-sport athlete. And, as of Monday, he is seriously condidering it.
“Everyone has always told me I was better at baseball, but I have always liked football more,” Natke said.
And last but not least is Bates, who will take his hurdling talents to track and field powerhouse Eastern Michigan University.
While at North Branch, Bates has set school records in the 110 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and the pole vault while helping set school records in the 400 (Sullivan, Friske, Bates, Stawecki) and 800 (Bates, Griffin, Friske, Stawecki) relays.
Bates has also qualfied for the Division 2 State finals three times and was crowned a state champion in the 300 hurdles. In the 110 hurdles, Bates came just short of his second state championship in 2010, finishing second overall.
“He has been a pleasure to coach during his high school career and it will great to see him mature as a student/athlete at Eastern Michigan University,” North Branch boys track coach Paul Stawecki said. “Dalton was looking at few other schools, including Saginaw Valley, CMU and Grand Valley. But, with the rich tradition of championship athletes and teams at Eastern, I was glad that he chose to be an Eagle.”
Along with competing in the Midwest Meet of Champs, Bates took part in the Junior All-American Nationals where he placed eighth in the 300 and 12 in the 110.
“Eastern’s head coach, John Goodridge, is very excited about Dalton and his potential as a collegiate Division 1 athlete, as well as those that coached and followed him while here in North Branch,” Stawecki said.  “I will miss him. But, it will be a joy to watch his progress over the next few years while he attends EMU.”
The Eastern Michigan mens track and field team has more championships than any other MAC school, posting their 21st title in 2010.